causes of the 2008 global economic downturn and suggest ways to turn things around. new york university in new york city. about an hour. [applause] >> before i get started i had an opportunity to go around and meet everybody and say hello and i know you talk about the weather here. no offense. ..

>> it's wonderful full to be with you, ma'am. thank you. [applause] >> is a tremendous thrill for me to be here and it was great to meet so many of you as a book signing. i tried to meet all of you and get pictures and learn about you and your families. and you said such nice things. i just hope that the reviewers are just as charitable. [laughter] and as you may assume there's a lot of pressure, big pressure on a first time author, especially when you're out there talking about your life story. now, i haven't felt so exposed since i. in cosmopolitan magazine in 1982. [laughter] i guess you can imagine also

that you do not see too many massachusetts republicans coming out this way. [applause] >> so in this year in month of the ronald reagan centennial, i'm proud to note of the connections between our 40th president and the baystate. just for starters, mrs. reagan and i were talking out in hall and she is a distance graduate of a fine massachusetts school, smith college in northampton. i've been there many times. it is a wonderful school. then there's the portrait of a great man that president reagan gave in place of honor in the cabinet room. it's the former massachusetts governor, calvin coolidge. and i'll wager that the magnificent air force one that i saw and many of you have seen out in the area that is just as big as i can tell, i've never seen such a large museum space, has set down more than few times

in logan air force because as a candidate, as you know broderick and carried my state it and you also know that no other republican has won massachusetts in the last 50 years. and the gipper did it twice. [applause] >> room when i think of ronald reagan i think of someone who was larger than life, a powerful figure who is proud to be an american. i did my small part, you can clap on that. it's true. [applause] >> it's true. and i like you did my part in supporting him, and in the working-class neighborhood where i lived, that put me in the majority. so this day in american politics we speak of reagan republicans and reagan democrats. and that's the legacy of a man who respected everyone, and spoke to everyone. now, a lot of all political subjects fell away in his time,

because his convictions were so clear and his integrity was so obvious people of every background and even many who had never considered voting for republicans sized of ronald reagan and thought you know what? this is my kind of guy. he understands the country. he wants everyone to have a chance. and he knows that in this world the united states of american is a force for good. the american people, reagan said, are hopeful, big hearted, idealistic, daring, decent and fair. he was all of these things himself, and everyone could see that. we can all think of leaders throughout history who had qualities of greatness, i came up a little short in the qualities of goodness. and somehow when we remember this great man, we think of his goodness. he was engaged in the biggest events of his time, the kindness and courtesy were never, ever beneath him.

it's just the way he carried himself, that confident, gentlemanly manner. he was all class. and in hollywood you can't even fake that. sometimes the best tributes come from a bonus because they're the ones as you will know that are looking for weaknesses, and it was a noble -- notable adversary who wants a president reagan, the largest of spirit infused his presidency. ronald reagan was one of those rare presidents who lifted our vision and enlarge our very conception of this nation and its mission on earth. his time will long glow in history and in memory. that was pretty high praise coming as it did from edward m. kennedy and while nobody could ever call ted a reagan democrat, he certainly knew the type and he knew that they don't like either party taking their votes for granted. the reagan democrats, many of you know, are still a mighty force in my state, and

definitely across this country. otherwise i would not be here today as a proud successor of the late senator kennedy. so, i guess as you know there was a little bit of luck working for the last year, too. although when i got into the senate race, i'm sure it didn't look like i was a guy about to catch any breaks, as you all know. and after the passing of senator kennedy, most people thought that the special election would be decided in the democratic primary. simple as that. who wanted to be the sadsack republican who is going to take the fall in the general election? it was me. [applause] >> well, i'll tell you what. i knew what i wanted. i wanted to be the republican nominee, not just to prove that i could lose by a little instead of by a law. [laughter] >> i remember talking to some

political pros about getting into the race, and they were sure i couldn't make it, but they did see one upside. by getting my name out there apparently and raising my statewide profile, maybe, just maybe i could position myself for a run at like state treasurer or state auditor or something like that down the road. and even after i managed to get the republican nomination, i heard the same thing from commentators, with certain defeat awaiting the i must be trying to set myself up apparently for some type of consolation prize later on. this is the way it is, it's massachusetts. i never bought into that type of thinking. i sensed opportunity and a chance for change. and on the other side i just sensed overconfidence. now, many of you who may know me will know i am a competitive guy. i've always loved the game of basketball. i learned early on that no self-respecting player ever,

ever leaves the court before taking his best shot. the way i saw it, running for the united states senate was absolutely no different. i was going to give it my best shot and take absolutely nothing for granted. i was going to run hard and i was going to run to win. in our lives, you know, we all know that at sometime in our lives we are all the underdog at one time or another. i hope my book will help others to get through those trying times. because everyone has moments when others are saying that something can't be done. that however worthy the goal it's just not possible. let me tell you something, when you get told otherwise, you have to go with your gut. and if it's truly in your heart to take a big chance, then my advice is to ignore the doubters and give every last thing that's inside you. because sometimes just taking a

risk, and overcoming the fear of failure is actually a kind of victory in itself. i don't know if you agree with me, but that's how i've passionate that's how i've always felt. [applause] >> and you never know, you just never know when you might just beat the odds and go all the way. and against all odds seem like a fitting title for a story of my unlikely win last year there and, frankly, for the longer tail that you find in the book, it's my life. it's my life. and as you will quickly gather it's not been cleaned up or made to look any more gentle or tidy than it really was. that time or two it was suggested that it could be a little more vague, a little more vague about some of the things i experienced and move a little faster over the rough spots toward a happy ending as being a united states senator.

but my attitude was, you know, there was enough self-serving books by politicians, and quite frankly i did what my name on them. i did not my name on it. so i left him some stuff on quite frankly not especially proud of. and a few moments in my life that i would rather have forgotten. i just figured that if i was going to tell my story at all, i have to just trust you, the readers, and just tell it straight. about some of the early experiences i recount in his book, let me just say that no one will accuse me of idealizing my youth. it's a life story. you know, you have to tell about your family, and my family was, when i was a kid wasn't anyone's idea of a model household. my mom and dad between them had eight marriages. yeah, eight marriages. just say no, mom is happily divorced and that is happily

married. and as i grew up in various towns outside boston, dad was always in and out of my life and, unfortunately, he was mostly out. we moved 17 times by the time i was 18. and it was always either in a cheaper apartment or someone else's house. and my mom raised my sister basically a low. sheeted waitressing work, office work and other odd jobs. and at times, yes, we're even on public assistance. my mom had it pretty hard. sometimes adding to her own troubles. and having a restless kid like me around who looked and acted a lot like his absent father, while getting harder to handle every year, didn't exactly brighten her outlook either. the stepdad who came and went in our lives included some pretty sorry characters. two of them had a very violent streak that brought a lot of grief and fear into our lives. just to give you an idea of how miserable we were with one of these guys, when the house we shared with them came up for

sale a few years ago, i dropped by, i looked at it and it brought back a lot of memories. as i was leading and driving away i said man i wish i could buy the place and burn it down. i know, would have been trouble. it really was that unpleasant sometimes and there's no getting around the plane telling of it in my book. but let me take him before you take out your receipts, and i know a lot of you say them to see if you can return the copies on your way out of here, you should know that things do get better in the last chapters. they do, they do. it's a hopeful book and i'm glad to say that my mom and dad are in my life and played a pivotal role in it. and they know and love their grandchildren. and we're all content to focus on what we have today instead of what could have been or should have been. in years past. and decide what comes to family, i got absolutely, absolutely no complaints.

my luck turned in a big way in the mid 1980s when i married my wife, gail. and our girls are grown now, and being the dad and a happy family has been the greatest thing in the world that has happened to me. i'm not going to cry. it's a world away from what we call a family when i was growing up. and when you see, when you see the opposite, you can never, ever take a loving peaceful home for granted, ever. most of us when we think back on her own personal journeys, and then on not the only one who's had tough times. we can remember the toughest times, clearest of all, i know everyone in this audience has had those tough times and you think back and you say wow. and that's how it is and was with me in writing this book. it wasn't hard to pull up the details of some of the adversity that came my way. for example, when a six-year-old

young boy is taking the best purchase of a drunken stepdad, and when a kid can't even find a safe haven at a bible camp, i won't lie, it leaves a mark. for me, when there were times in my boyhood when i felt like i couldn't trust anyone, couldn't trust anyone, for a while i wasn't actually isn't that trustworthy myself. and fell in with some older kids whose idea of an afternoon outing was going to the mall to do some shoplifting. and that's how i felt myself at age 13 sitting in a big courtroom facing an even bigger judge and feeling like the little thief that i actually was. the judge, a fine man, named judge samuel didn't know i even ripped off the suit that i was wearing that day. [laughter] >> but the judge did know, he did know that there was a young kid in there who could still go one way or the other.

he gave me the talking to that i needed, and a big, big break that started to point me in a better direction. there are other great people in my life, teachers, basketball coaches and parents and friends who showed up in my life just in time. from then i learned to take responsibility for the first time in my life, to channel my energy in a structured way, and to get disciplined in what account that i actually had. and for so long, i remember like it was yesterday, for so long i felt like a loser kid who is missing out on everything good. and they showed me how much i really had going for me. and in part because of them, and also because of my grandparents, things never completely came unraveled. and i escaped to beat the odds. well, let me just take a little drink year.

i hope you like basketball. how many people here like basketball? [applause] spiegel i like the celtics a little better than the clippers and the lakers, however, but that's okay. don't hold that against me, all right? i hope you do a passable because there's a lot of it in the book. i love to lose myself in the intensity of the game when i played. on the court all the chaos of letdowns of my daily life were completely out of my mind. there were clear rules and boundaries that i actually needed. i knew my abilities, and how to use them when i played. i once told my coach, as a matter of fact, when i was younger, probably eighth or ninth grade, that i wanted to wear kneepads because that was the cool thing. and he told me he said scott, serious players are not the guys with knee pads, but the ones with escapes and -- scrapes and bruises because they dive for the ball and brush off the pain, those are the guys you have to

watch out for. and given my home wifi new exactly what it meant to brush off the pain. so on the basketball court i wasn't the fastest kid, but being tough and a hard worker, counted for an awful lot. now, l.a. basketball fans might remember the wisdom of the great and legendary coach john wooden. he said never let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. it was relevant then and it is relevant today. and that type of thinking helped me to see past my own limitations, to supplement my financial aid while playing basketball. i held jobs that usually involved a mop or a paintbrush or a shovel. any honest work that would pay the bills, it was good by me. because it kept me moving closer to something better that i knew was out there. and when reporters in the most recent senate race action i had a chance to win, they did a

little research, a little research. my background, i'm shocked. shocked. [laughter] >> and they didn't linger on my 25 year legal career, my years in the state legislature, by 31 years in the army national gua guard. no. know, what really got their attention was the work i did in the '80s for cosmopolitan magazine. [laughter] >> let's just say it seem like a good idea at the time. [laughter] especially when they sent me to new york city. there i was without a nickel to my name and a mountain full of tuition bills ahead of me. so i accepted. and for a while there i was. i was the cosmo guy. accepting all the duties and privileges you might -- you

might imagine that would come of such a tough. i was even on the today show back then. even on the today show. bryant gumbel, jane pauley, you remember it. and in the green room our member summit as being a contest winner might actually hinder a political future if i had one in my. i said no, no, politics isn't for me. and anyway, i think you will care about these pictures 30 years from now. [laughter] >> go figure. strange as it might sound, the experiences i write about in this book, and yes, even my modeling days, they add up to a life that i wouldn't trade for anything. it's often like that, as you know. you all know that. you know exactly when talking about. i'm just like you in those thoughts. we look back and we see how even the rough times that we've had, all those rough experiences have actually shaped as for the good. they have made us who we are. and i tried to get that across in my book. it's a store that millions and millions of other people could

tell. with different scenes and seniors and different details about being poor and feeling trapped and wishing you could just get up and run away from it all. to some kids whether they're in boston are south central l.a., that's all life seems to offer sometimes. let me tell you something. you know, i know for fact that i am a better man for having been one of those kids. with no money in my pocket, no father to protect me and my sister, no feelings of pride of achievement outside of basketball, and if my story, if my story can reach one kid and show that everything can be better if they listen to the right people, let me tell you something, i will take that over even the best book review. [applause]

>> it's also, it's also a book about second chances and the people who gave them to me. may be the only people we remember better than the ones who knocked us down, and we all have them, are the gracious ones who helped us up and actually gave us a break in our lives, and encouraged us and gave us the encouragement and direction we needed when absolutely no one else would. they didn't even think that we would be worth the trouble, and i know better than to think that any good thing in my life was preordained. i know that. and i've come this far only because long ago that he people in my life thought i was actually worth the trouble. and thank goodness for that. president reagan said the man quote didn't base his rating on gains won or lost, but on the record, the player in later life. what kind of man and the boy had become. i had a couple of coaches just like that. whose good influence i can still

feel today. i still have a relationship with these coaches, these mentors in my life today. and they found a decent work ethic in me and reinforces on a daily basis. they toughened up my inside game. they gave me confidence to play with the best, and to never, ever let the other team inside my head. those are the strengths that will serve you well in any line of work. and let me tell you, they actually come in handy if you're a republican running for political office in massachusetts. [laughter] like many kids in my state and of my generation, i grew up with respect to the name of john f. kennedy even on our messed up houses we often heavy picture of john f. kennedy on the wall. and ted held the seat until the time i was three. i'm 51 epic and on top of the audit legacy we are in a state where all of 12% of registered voters are republicans.

12%. and in a republican who bothers to run for political office isn't just taking on an opponent, you know, you are taking on the entire democratic state committee and this whole machine of unions and special interests. most times they can keep a pretty tight hold on things in massachusetts. and my race was different for a whole lot of reasons. in a bad economy with two wars going on, voters were at a pretty serious frame of mind. while the machine was treating the whole thing as a formality. iran on the issues i'm and voters appreciated being treated as if they actually had a choice. i said that a government takeover of health care was a bad idea, and i was against it. i also said that we need to get off the road of big government and dangerous debt, and focus again on private enterprise and growing our economy and new jobs for our people. [applause]

>> and dealing with america's terrorist enemies, i said that our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them. [applause] >> and you know what, the default position of the local machine is always to brush off political republican candidates who are running for office is as right wing nuts. well, this time it was different. it didn't fly in massachusetts. and under a short time before the final debate, i remember like it was yesterday, on a bitter cold night, as cold as it is here, this is tropical, come on. i shook hands, i actually went outside, it probably was, had to have been 10 or 20 below zero. it was cold. it was a cold night, but they were out there holding signs for each other. and i went outside and i shook hands with everybody, including those people who were supporting my opponent.

they were mostly union guys and they would say scott, scott, we are voting for you. [laughter] >> yeah, we're here because we're getting paid to hold these signs. [laughter] >> we are voting for you, yes. well, that assure a confidence builder for the debate that i was having about an hour later, which had the usual back and forth into one question was put to me by the moderator. it was a chance to say what was on everybody's mind. the question was, whether i was really, really willing to vote against obamacare, even as the senator from massachusetts holding quote ted kennedy's seat. well, i begin my answer. look, with all due respect, it's not the kennedy seat and it's not the democrats see. it's the people's seat, and it's still the people's seat. [applause] >> and from that point on it was

amazing, you could fuel a real shift in the momentum of the race. and it wasn't long before a quick visit to boston was added to the president's schedule. yeah. remember that? and my response was that the president of the united states is always welcome in the commonwealth of massachusetts. i even forgave him for disrespecting my truck. [laughter] >> it was too late anyway because something bigger than both of us was happening in massachusetts. the ideals of reagan republicans and reagan democrats were once again uniting us. and as i said on election night, if it can happen in massachusetts, it can happen again all over america. [applause] >> yup. and it did because as we saw again in this past election in november, there were some convictions that need only be stated plainly, plainly to win a majority. and at a time when the national debt is more than $14 trillion

rising, if you stand for spending discipline, then the people will stand with you. and with eight, nine or 10% of our fellow citizens out of work in a year and a half after we're told that the recession has ended, let our opponents tried to pitch another stimulus bill or go to the barricades to keep obamacare and see what happens. and if our cause, if our cause is free enterprise, lower taxes and personal responsibility, then trust me, trust me, a lot of working people may keep hearing those democratic signs. they will vote republican. [applause] >> well, i've been in the senate now for a little over a year now, a year and a couple of weeks. and to this day i keep on my

mantle in my office a picture of ted kennedy. it reminds me not only of someone i liked and admired, but also of a promise i made to my friends back home, which was to work with good people, whatever i find them. i've always told my fellow republicans if you're looking for a full on ideologue, i'm not your guy. but to someone who needs an ally in the cause of limited government, individual liberty, and a confident advance of freedom in this world, then i say count me in because that's, that's because the earned my loyalty long ago in the days of president ronald reagan. and the way of examples to follow, there is still no finer example of president reagan. [applause] >> let me just say in closing,

because i know i hear some grumbling stomachs out there, thank you for braving the weather and coming. [laughter] >> i think i'll go run in my shorts a little eight or. but truly, mrs. reagan, i feel like i'm dreaming. i'm so honored to meet you. you and your husband were such role models for all of us in america. it's truly been my privilege to join each and everyone of you, you at this beautiful place that bears his name, so thank you, god bless and have a wonderful dinner. thank you. [applause] [applause] >> thank you. please, sit down.

i know we're getting hungry. i just want to go down as a hello for mrs. reagan for just a minute. i'll be right back. >> senator brown has been kind enough to spend about 10 or 12 minutes answering questions. we get questions from you. >> and i haven't seen them so here we go. >> i think you'll find this for some interesting. >> who will win the nba -- sorry. celtics, come on. [laughter] >> go ahead. i know everyone is hungry. fire away. >> what you think about what is happening in wisconsin now? >> what's happening in wisconsin, obviously the people of wisconsin are trying to get a handle on their $3.6 billion structural deficit. and they elected a new governor to do with that problem.

they elected a new legislature to back them up. he sent his plan to the legislature. i encourage the center to come back into the people's business. [applause] >> and everything is on the table right now, folks. we are in very deep fiscal trouble not only federally but in each individual state as you all know. enabler needs to get in the room, sit down and the things that an immature response and fairways of the citizens of wisconsin can actually compete not only throughout this country but throughout the world in a global market. [applause] >> in light of the recent shooting of congresswoman giffords, what are your opinions regarding the protection of congressmen and senators during public appearances? >> i feel safe that your protecting me today. [laughter] i must say that. well, first of all, listen, what

happened to the congresswoman is a shameful. and a deranged individual who did it is absolutely no excuse for it, and my thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family. i'm so thankful that she is moving along and seems to be getting better. but let's not forget the young girl who was killed and the others who were actually killed. and the political rhetoric throughout this country, while we have the ability to freely, openly debate and criticized, we also need to be, you know, respectful. like president reagan and tip o'neill. rimer, battle, battle and then they don't have a a beer. right? no, i don't use any additional security but i will say i am aware. and when i feel the threat level rises, i do what have to do to protect myself and my family. and my deepest wish is that people debate, they disagree,

they solve problems but in my personal philosophy is i will debate to death and i will argue to death in a respectful responsible manner, then if i can go out and have a beer with you after, that's how i tried to do my bargaining and negotiating. >> what has surprised you the most about washington, d.c.? >> that's easy. [laughter] >> you laugh but what surprised me the most is, listen, i'm the luckiest guy in the world. no doubt about it. and i am blessed to be a united states senator that could mean anything aside from the birth of my children and my marriage that i'm more proud of, but aside as i travel around the world, and around this country, you know what they talk overseas? from the prime ministers and presidents and business leaders all the way down to the course for pushing a cart full pomegranates, talk about a job, and since i've been in the next it's then up until we got back

we spent 12 to 15 days talk about anything to do with jobs. were in the middle of a two-year recession and we do nothing to do with anything to do with jobs. are you kidding me? really? so here we are in a new year, i'm encouraged that we're looking at the debt deficit. and whatever else is talking about, you know, illegal immigration, i'm talking about jobs. when you talk about this or that, i'm talking about jobs. and, finally, he seems to be that they're focusing on jobs and we'll see, the first issue is a 1099. deal with the medical device tax and health care bill, fix a lot of things, streamline, consultant, do what we can to get this economy going, repatriate all the offshore money. we're going to work on the tax code, this only things we can do and limiting such a great opportunity right now to work with the american people and a bipartisan bicameral basis to do just that. the people of the united states of america sent a very powerful message in november that the tide of business as usual. so we need to get our fiscal house in order to come so

anxious to get back to do just that. [applause] >> how did your experiences as a child affect the way you raise your own children? >> well, i haven't missed any basketball games or recitals or parent-teacher things. i am probably, you know, it was funny when i was doing work wherever i was, what time is became lax and i try to teach them the things that i didn't learn them and the things that i did learn i try to teach them better. and we all can learn and grow from our parents mistakes, and are never going up and i said i'm not doing that, definitely not doing that. i may do that but i'm trying to do it a little better. so, and jewelry in the book, and i hope you all do get the book because it does send a very powerful message that, regardless of your

circumstances, and there are many, many, many people in worse circumstances than i do come if you have a few good people around you, you can actually make a difference. so i've tried to just be a good dad. you know, the best i can. we are a family that like many other families are a work in progress. but i think so far so good, you know. knock on wood. >> how did your parents feel about the book to? >> well, as you saw, my parents had their own difficulties. the first was to admit they made mistakes but it was a different time. 50, 40 years ago, different time, different time for women, different time for young people. my parents were going obviously concerned about everyone knowing their business, but they were also very thankful that i created this opportunity to actually talk about the things that we have dealt with in our family. because probably like many of you there certain taboo things you don't talk about in your

family. and i remember when i was dealing with some of the abuse issues at camp and i called home, wanting to come home, and my mom, three or four weeks ago said, was that the time when you want to come home from camp when you are being abused? i said yeah. she says, i'm so sorry. and that enabled us to then talk about a few other things, and other things and other things. and my dad, for weeks ago, we sat down for breakfast, and he's dealing with parkinson's. he's battling in his own, you know, health right now and electing any eye and said, i'm sorry. i wish i had known. i wish i had been there. and that enabled us, it was great, like this big weight being lifted off the. like okay, he gets it that. and they were able to build on our relationship. and like many other families we are a work in progress but i love them, they love me. any, all the time they spent battling and doing the things in

their lives, they how are now counting on our kids which is a wonderful value to me and to them. >> what compelled you to seek the senate seat in the first place that was so traditionally democratic? >> it was on a dare first of all. don't ever challenge me. that's why the president does want to play me in basketball. [laughter] [applause] >> okay? if i could use it in the middle of your answer them that's the final question. could you beat the president at basketball? [laughter] >> just tell him to bring his wallet. [applause] >> but seriously, yeah, i could beat him. [laughter] >> listen, i've been blessed. like i said, some good people, i enjoy playing sports. used a lot of references to sports in the book.

and there so many things that we're dealing with right now, it's overwhelming, and you're dealing with them here at a more local bases. you know exactly what i'm talking i am going to go off topic for just a minute. we are at the point right now in our country that we have to make some very tough and serious decisions about where we go as a country. are we going to be a leader like the days of president reagan? or are we going to be a follower, just kind of going along? and i for one want to be proud to be an american, as i am now, i want to be broader. i want to be able to get our fiscal and financial house in order. i want is to be leaders when it comes to our national security, setting the example, and letting people know that when they invest their dollars here in the united states of america they will be safe. so we need to make some very serious choices, and i'm hopeful that we will do it in a rational, responsible manner.

because listen, 2011, this is the time to do. there will be plenty of time for politics. 2012, you'll see commercials and all that stuff and say my god, not again. 2011 so we need to get to work. we've got to get to work. you demand it. you send a message. we need leadership from everybody. top to bottom. so, is there any other questions? >> that's it. that's all we have time for. >> listen, thank you very much. enjoy your dinners. [applause] [applause] >> this event was hosted by new york university. to find out more visit nyu.edu. >> let me first say that i use saudi arabia to a lesser degree its fellow arab peninsula as the nationstate that is perhaps the most dangerous to the united states and to the west generally. yes, russia and china are

threats to the united states, but they are threats washington openly acknowledges. closely watches and assesses, it is fully capable of defending america against. saudi arabia, however, is a serious threat. indeed, one more dangerous than iraq. toward which our governing elite in both parties turns a blind eye. i believe this easily pretends that we have a closer reliable ally. it keeps america's energy security dependence, dependent on its enemies by relying on the saudis to play april u.s. role in the oil market. and endangered our economy but allowing the saudis to buy an ever larger share of our ever more out of federal debt. in addition, the status quo the past 30 years have built a highly effective lobby and the united states, which is as pernicious, effective and corrupting asp ipad, but more quiet and subtle.

this lobby employs former u.s. ambassadors, generals, and seniors, senior intelligence officers to argue its case in the white house, the congress, and the media. especially in "the wall street journal." and needless to say, this lobby's work is enthusiastically assisted by our oil and arms making corporations whose concerns have less to do with u.s. security and in making sure they keep their seats on the saudi gravy train. that is come even now hauling away another $60 billion worth of us-made arms. due to these factors, u.s. leaders never tell americans the truth about the conduct, which is that since the 1970s oil boom started an enormous transfer of western wealth to the peninsula, the saudis have quietly exported out grand of the sunni islam that has radicalized much of the historically defined sunni middle east region in which is now in places like indonesia,

malaysia, pakistan, afghanistan, india, the balkans, the north caucasus and sub-saharan africa. last year in nigeria, for example, where saudi and gulf of missionaries have long labored and spent large sums of, an islamist group amended their theretofore local agenda to name the united states as its number one target for quote unquote america's oppression and aggression against muslim nations, particularly in iraq and afghanistan, and because of its blind support for israel, closed quote. more in need of a dangerous for the west, however, are the saudi funded -- saudi regime funded activities of clicks and united states and europe, especially in the united kingdom. for more than 30 years, the saudis domestic religious establishment which controls education, social policy and missionary work, has brought

western muslims to the kingdom for theological training in its religious universities. these men returned to the west to preach what only can be described as a martial oriented islam is into realism, a vision of the world has holy islamic, which for the west would mean that christian and jewish populations could convert, accept subordination to islam, or face elimination. these saudi trained preachers are prominent in mosques in the united states and in europe, and have secured positions as chaplains in western universities, prison systems and militaries. this is not to say, let me stress, that all of american or european muslim communities share this martial and expansionist orientation. but it is very much to say that these saudi trained clerics have attained enough positions in the west and have enough access to muslim youth through multiple media vehicles to have a growing impact.

they are now influencing some young muslim males in the west and a pro-jihad direction. in much the same way they have for years influenced them in the middle east, asia, and africa. those who doubt this would be well served in reviewing the escalating number of militant related activities that have been uncovered and stopped indiana state since 2007. to note the growing number of u.s., young u.s.-canadian, australian and british muslims who are going abroad to fight and train under al qaeda's boehner in somalia, yemen and afghanistan, and also to note al qaeda's very successful recruitment of talented u.s. citizen and muslims to run the operation targeting muslim communities in the english-speaking world. and the saudis, too, are the bridge from our second source of concern in the persian gulf. the saudi kingdom and its brother journeys to the third.

namely osama bin laden, al qaeda, their allies, and increasing numbers of muslims inspired by each. when all is said and done, osama bin laden is not an anomaly in saudi arabia. rather, he is the poster boy for its educational system and successes. fortunately for the united states and the west, and lawton has matured as a defense islam is, not like the saudi monarchy and the muslim brotherhood. offenses. even with these differences, however, the saudis overseas missionary activities to the organizational, military and media activities. through it expatriate saudi preachers, islamic ngos, and direct funding by we add for local organizations, the saudi sacred muslim communities in most areas of the world that are alienated and even -- a union from and hateful towards the

west. and so these communities are continual environment for hosting an al qaeda presence. in the balkans, in india and in bangladesh, in the north caucasus in south asia, in north america and europe, and in sub-saharan africa these preachers, ngos, and doses of saudi cash have for decades prepare the ground for al qaeda and its allies. >> you can watch this and other programs online at booktv.org. >> on february 16 of this year, the borders bookstore group declared bankruptcy. joining us now i'm booktv to discuss the impact of this bankruptcy is sarah weinman who is the news editor of publishers marketplace. ms. wyman, how did borders get to the point of declaring bankruptcy? >> well, i think it's been a long time in coming. certainly the last three years particular quarter after

quarter, borders has been losing money. they've also gone through a number of management changes, especially at the top. they've gone through something i think like for ceos in the past four years, but this story can also date back to the beginning of the 21st century i suppose, things like putting their website out and they didn't reclaim it until 2008. their strategy was never at the same level as the kindle or with the no. it always seemed that borders was operating a few steps behind every other retailer. and combining all these additional factors that has been i guess impacting the publishing industry, especially on the print side, in combination with various managerial mismanagement. it really didn't come as a particular surprise that borders declared chapter 11. >> you've mentioned the amazon

connection. what exactly did borders do with amazon, and in your view, what kind of mistake was that? >> to reiterate, back in 2001 when borders have had its own website, but instead of running their own e-commerce books directly themselves, they pass that onto amazon. so essentially they were giving up revenue to their competitor in order to essentially make certain things easier. but in doing that and something of a devil's bargain because they didn't essentially on their own online property. so by the time you change directions, they had a new ceo who said this was not a very good idea. but in reclaiming it in 2008, by then amazon was already introducing the transit. barnes & noble nook was in the works though it wouldn't be introduced into 2009. so eventually when borders to develop the e-book strategy in selling some additional the

readers, they just never were able to catch up in terms of appropriate market share. >> so what happens to the borders e-book reader, cobos? >> cobos says any books that have been bought through borders website are perfectly safe. and sci-fi, but it's also interesting that cobos other partner in australia which incidentally franchises the borders and for various bookstores, they've also declared bankruptcy over there. so, i'm hopeful that cobos' assertions are indeed too but i think it'll be interesting to see if, in fact, the e-books that people bought through borders sites are indeed safe and people can reclaim them and read them as they wanted to. >> so borders has about 642 big box stores across the country. how many are the closing? >> they are closing 200, and the going out of business sales are, in fact, starting tomorrow.

i believe the liquidation sales will be between 20 and 40% off. and those, those are we going to be in the works. they have idly started shutting down the cafés at the superstars. and will be very apparent walking into those 200 stores that have been designated for closure all around the country that you will see the going out of business sale signs and be able to get books, cds, dvds and other appropriate merchandise at those prices. >> why is it that barnes & noble has been able to maintain its big box strategy, but is all about the e-book? >> i don't believe it is all about the e-book. i think with respect -- it may come down to this, which is barnes & noble certainly most recently, they are run at the top by people who value books more than anything else at with respect to borders because of been such a tremendous churn of management changes, they brought in people from outside companies

who had expended in general retailer who may not have realized that their experience did not necessarily translate into what's appropriate for the book business. the book business is very quirky, and it's not always a best fit with what respect to what public companies in particular need. for example, expecting and demanding higher and higher profits. the book business operates on a tight margin. 1% is about average. you're lucky if you get up to 3%. as a result, this sort of uncomfortable fit operated by people who were not as experienced without the book business works probably added to borders troubles. >> sarah weinman, when you look at the brooks -- the bricks and mortar's booksellers can what you see in the future given what's happened to borders? >> it's interesting you say that because i'm starting to believe more and more that we may also be witnessing the natural end of the chain bookstore business,

which essentially started in the late '80s and early 90s when borders expanded, when barnes & noble's expanded and we started seeing these massive superstars that stood alone. some of them were part of malls, but most of them are entities you could drive up to and park your car and go in in comfy chairs and be part of this great experience. and in hindsight i do wonder if perhaps we were perhaps fooling ourselves that this could last as long as it did. and maybe 20 years was the natural lifecycle for such a thing. so we will see, especially if digital sales keep going perhaps we will see a greater purpose preponderance of smaller independent stores, a number of them have open. they face many of the pressures that it invented -- even a small

e-book strategy, they seem that the best chance for survival. i think we'll hopefully see more of those. so the ecosystem is going to change. it will certainly impact how publishers perhaps site authors and what sort of advances their bank and what books will be most visible. but to say that the shrinking of the chain bookstore business means that the book industry is dead is a connection i would be deeply uncomfortable in making because there are too many signs that are pointing towards more optimistic waters. >> who were some of borders biggest creditors, and what have they said since the filing? >> well, on the unsecured creditors aside, the biggest one is the penguin putnam group which i believe is owed 40 women. after that most of the major execs publishers, for example, simon & schuster is owed 33 million. random house is owed somewhere

around the mid-30 million range. harpercollins, mcmillan and so on and so forth. i believe the only publisher that has issued a statement is penguin. others have stayed mom with respect to what's happening. and, of course, there are the larger secured creditors which are bank of america which held credit agreement. they are still almost 200. ibg a capital also is owed almost 50 million off of their own agreement as well. so they have to pay off the banks began to pay off the biggest publishers. and, of course, landlords are trying to get whatever they can as well as additional creditors. so, all told i believe borders pose about 300 or so million, the vendors. and they still have to figure out how they're going to get paid. >> and in your view borders emerge from bankruptcy, or with its remaining stock of stores et cetera become a profitable company? >> i think it would be wonderful

to see them emerge as a smaller, leaner, more profitable company. i also believe that many of the factors that has enabled them to go into bankruptcy may not be so kind and forgiving. there is to my mind and little too much concordance with what happened when they went into chapter 11 administration in late 2008, went to the court and realize they can have an appropriate business plan and eventually went into chapter seven. numerous reports indicate that publishers are not terribly happy with what borders seems to have in mind. their top priority, for example, seems to be highlighted their borders rewards plus card. but if customers coming and they know that the company is in trouble, do they really want to redeem their borders postcards or sign up for a membership in a company may still doesn't have a future? so i think in less borders has a really rocksolid strategy as how they're going to survive, they may suffer the same fate as

circuit city. but at the same time, i do think we're going to build for several months at the earliest. >> sarah weinman is the news editor of publishers marketplace. thank you for joining us on booktv. >> thanks so much for having me. >> is a booktv.org to watch any of the programs you see here online. type the author or book titled in the search bar on the upper left side of the page and click search. you can also assure anything you see on booktv.org easily by clicking share on the upper left side of the page and selecting the format. booktv streams live online for 48 hours every weekend with the top nonfiction books and authors. booktv.org. >> with you at cpac talking with a kenneth timmerman about his new book, "st. peter's bones." tell us what this book is about. >> this is a war novel, a book about the persecuted church in iraq. my narrator is an iraqi christian interpreter who has worked for special forces in

iraq. this came out of my work as a journalist in iraq. i spent a lot of time in the north of iraq with the persecuted christians. i've also drawn -- on many times to jordan and lebanon to speak with iraqi christian refugees. i just felt as a journalist the message wasn't getting out. so i wanted to write a novel that would give people a human side of this story. so they could understand what's happened to the syrian chaldean industry it christians in iraq who happened to be the indigenous people and they're being forced out by a high muslim. >> were the people that you met what you were there as which also inspired some of your character of? >> yesterday we are calling this a historical novel. there are obviously all the characters are fictional, but i certainly met a lot of interpreters, people who work for u.s. workers in iraq. and if you wish, there's a kind of composite figure that is my narrator, but again i wanted to tell also the story of how the

christians have lived in iraq for generations. so there's a family saga in this, a love story, of course there's a young history woman who comes to iraq to find a route and there's a story about st. peter's bones themselves, the relics of saint peter and where they might be, such as in a monastery in northern iraq. >> have you done any nonfiction work based on your journalism the? >> i'm the author of 10 books. the most recent book is called shadow warriors, traitors, saboteurs and the party of surrender. i did book in 2005 about a man called countdown to crisis, and on and on and on. my main specialty is the middle east. i write for news magazines, i've done quite a bit of tv as well. >> wendy kopp is the founder of teach for america. during this program she recounts the creation of the organization in 1990, and it's cool to diminish educational inequality. she reports on the over 25,000 teachers who have taught in low income areas with